Is it horrid? perfect, I'll take it!

Lovers of old homes are willing to do just about anything for a character-filled pile

This heritage house on Cameron Ave has undergone extensive renovations.

Photograph by: Pat McGrath
, Postmedia News

Oh sure, it sounds romantic. When Peter Mayle or Francis Mayes do it, under a Tuscan sun or in the midst of Provence where an unyielding supply of fresh duck eggs is just around the corner. Who wouldn't want to live in a 200-year-old house?

But all of that bravado comes before you truly give pause over the lead pipes that need to be replaced and the bathroom floor caving in ever so slightly. At that point, the purchase of an old house can seem like a masochistic choice, especially at a time when new homes are coming customized with everything from heated bathroom floors to home spas. (The latter detail possibly only available to those on a supermodel salary.) But individuals who buy these properties and fix them up can attest that they're a labour of love.

"Crack house." That was the first impression of her 1936 farmhouse, says Elizabeth Vickery of Victoria. The house had been rented out for the previous 15 years; the roof leaked, the renters hoarded and the place had a distinctly animal smell to it. But that didn't prevent Ms. Vickery from being smitten. She and her husband had been looking for both a home for their young daughter and a project for themselves. Ms. Vickery immediately recognized the potential of the big rooms, big porch, lots of windows and good flow. "As soon as I walked in the front door, I said, 'this is it.' My husband said, 'Oh, shit.' "

Sophia Saeed felt a similar lure. After renting "forever" and looking to buy for over a year, she put her life savings into an 1887 Victorian near Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto. After living in a condo, she was used to clean and modern, but she couldn't find an existing renovation that suited her tastes. And so she set out to remake the house of her dreams.

The house was divided into three apartments but had to be transformed back into a singlefamily home. "They destroyed all of the original details of the house: Stained glass windows were removed, they painted the railings and stairs, they painted the brick, and they destroyed the original fireplace," Ms. Saeed says. "The entire house was a '70s renovation dream - my nightmare." One kitchen was powder blue, and there was a bathroom that was entirely pink, right down to the showerhead. She plans on restoring the original brick exterior and the entire interior - from drywall to plumbing and insulation - has already been gutted and will undergo a thoroughly modern remodelling.

Ms. Vickery's renovation was also extensive; the house was gutted from top to bottom, including electrical, plumbing flooring, heating and the stripping of wood floors. They even moved the house 50 feet. Still, Ms. Vickery says she would do it all over again. Though she adds it's been 11 years since she purchased the house, the renovations aren't yet complete, and she does sometimes wish she had a magic wand.

True, some old houses turn out to be money pits, and renovations often require the patience of a saint. But most people who buy old homes do so with their eyes wide open - and sometimes even pay a premium for the privilege of starting all over again. Original stained glass brick Victorians are much more expensive than their modern-day, cookie-cutter counterparts. Their owners often view themselves as guardians of architectural history, and seek to lovingly restore a former grandeur - even if it takes every penny they have.

"Owning, or perhaps being a custodian of [the house] means that there are always things to be done," says Marilyn Livingstone, who bought the 400year-old "Honeychurch" in 2000. The house, near Exeter in Southwest England, was at some point an alehouse that sold beer and cider, and was constructed out of cob (a mix of mud, straw and dung). It also has a thatched roof. The kitchen has been gutted, one of the three original inglenook fireplaces has been opened, and frequent repairs have been necessary. "Many years of inappropriate work was done to the house using the wrong materials, and we have done, and hope to continue to do, repairs that will reverse the poor work using the traditional material and methods that are kinder to the fabric of the house," Ms. Livingstone says.

For Ms. Saeed, the choice to go old was easy. She didn't want a condo. And she didn't want to buy a house that had been renovated by someone else. "With finished homes, you always wonder why they put the powder room right in front of the kitchen," she says. Ms. Saeed also liked the challenge of a top-to-bottom renovation and believes customizing the home to her exact tastes will give her a strong sense of satisfaction with the outcome.

Plus, renovating a house can yield some pleasant surprises. Leanne Iceruk and Richard Laszlo, currently renovating a 100-year-old house in Toronto, say that one of the most interesting parts of their rebuild has been the discovery of little things that belonged to the previous owner. "One of our favourite finds has been a wooden picture of a naked woman riding a unicorn," Ms. Iceruk says. "We also found some old lottery tickets."